The story

A former crew member on the American ship attacked by pirates off Africa said the ship's captain is exactly the kind of person who would offer himself in exchange for the crew's safety.

"I was amazed when I heard that he offered himself up to the pirates, but he's definitely the kind of person to make that sacrifice," the former crew member of the Maersk Alabama, who asked not to be identified, said of Capt. Richard Phillips.

The man woke early Wednesday, checked the news online and saw that an American ship had been hijacked. Read full article »